OS boot
 

I have installed Redhat 9 with my Windows XP Professional. However, the installation prompted me to create the bootdisk as there may be some problems if I don't. Now, I have to use the bootdisk to boot to RH 9 everytime. How can I see the LILO screen without any bootdisk?

Welcome to LQ :)

When you installed RH you should have had the option to install your Boot Loader (LILO) to the MBR (Master Boot Record). It sounds like this was not your choice at the time. You can now install it by booting into RH, then login as root and type into a console:
/sbin/lilo -v
This installs lilo into the MBR... usually. However, you should also post up here what your /etc/lilo.conf file looks like (to paste in linux you highlight the test to be pasted and then use your middle button to paste, if you don't have a middle button press both side buttons down at once).

Cool

RH9 installs GRUB as default.

They referred to LILO specifically ;) If you'd like to give them grub specific advice, feel free :)

Cool

Hi captainstorm, I have chosen LILO explicitly during the installation. :)

Hi MasterC, thanks for the prompt reply! I can't recall if I have chosen the option of installing it into the MBR, though I am sure I have chosen LILO over GRUB.

I will post the content of my /etc/lilo.conf tomorrow when I get hold of my RH. Thanks for your help.

Hi Deathstar

Previous to having the option of creating a boot disk you should have been asked where you want to install a bootloader to - you have possibly chose to install LILO to a floppy or the boot sector of a partition - you should have installed it to the MBR - ie the boot sector of yourt 1st hard drive.

To check where you have installed LILO do

• open a terminal
  
• su
  
• root password
  
• vi /etc/lilo.conf

Your lilo.conf file will come up.

One of the first directives in lilo.conf will say something like


boot=/dev/hda ( or something similar )


This directive tells you where you installed Lilo to when installing Red Hat.

Post this line to us or perhaps the whole of your lilo.conf file.

Here's my /etc/lilo.conf. Should I run the command "/sbin/lilo -v" first?

prompt
timeout=50
default=DOS
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
message=/boot/message
linear

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-8
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.4.20-8.img
read-only
append="root=LABEL=/"

other=/dev/hda1
optional
label=DOS

That looks fine to me, feel free to attempt (as root) to run:
/sbin/lilo -v
Now.

Cool

I got the following error ... :(

[root@localhost tm]# /sbin/lilo -v
LILO version 21.4-4, Copyright (C) 1992-1998 Werner Almesberger
'lba32' extensions Copyright (C) 1999,2000 John Coffman

Reading boot sector from /dev/hda
Merging with /boot/boot.b
Warning: device 0x0302 exceeds 1024 cylinder limit
Fatal: sector 25168547 too large for linear mode (try 'lba32' instead)
[root@localhost tm]#

Add:
lba32
And place a comment (#) in front of linear, save the file and re-run:
/sbin/lilo -v

Cool

Thanks! It is working now.